Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 38 - Styles To Fit This World

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 - Styles To Fit This World

"This ensemble would work well for tonight."

A sapphire blue sweater with slim-cut black pants was handed to me first.

"The material of both are a wool blend that’s warm without being bulky. They’ll be plenty warm."

I ran my fingers over the fabric. Nowhere near the wool from my world’s most lauded sheep shifters, on that distant island nation of theirs... but it had a pleasant enough feel.

The particular blue seemed to brighten the sense of my light complexion even further in this room’s lighting.

"These are some other selections I believe will fit."

Holding up a blouse with what she called a crossover front, I was immediately intrigued. Like a shirt that implies some of the lines of a robe.

Several other more neutral and simple tops were brought, but it was hard to look away from the first and she could obviously tell.

"It would still work as a layer underneath the sweater and be striking when worn alone. Your skin is rather fair and with your black hair, bold reds have quite the contrast."

The rich color had certainly drawn my eye - as a reminder of my former status. As well as... a momentary reminder of the red worn underneath a sleek white suit.

"I... like it."

Words that came out with more uncertainty than assurance because of my stray thoughts, but Anise didn’t prod. She let me touch and hold up some of the simpler colored items before bringing another choice.

"For special occasions - or meetings where you need to make an impression."

A solid black dress with sheer fabric from the top of the bust to the neckline and shoulders that she said was an ’illusion’ neckline.

The material looked well fitted to the point that I would be surprised if anyone without the exact right measurements would ever find comfort inside it.

"It’s a modal blend designed to be versatile. Closer to the feel of a natural fiber but with added durability. The simplicity allows for accessorizing according to the occasion - and the structured tailoring ensures it flatters your specific figure."

The black reminded me too much of the fur of the Duskpaw for my preference. Yet, my alternate forms were not just going to sprout a different color.

They are also not the only black wolves in the world.

As much as I wanted nothing that would connect me to them, a neutral color should not be my ’line in the sand’.

"I’ll try it on, but I usually prefer items with more vibrancy. You mentioned accessories?"

"I can bring a few things over that I think might help make the look yours when you are trying it on."

With a nod given, she moved to point out a few final things.

"One sweater is going to get old, so you’ll need something else for colder days."

She presented a lightweight but warm-looking ’cardigan’ in a deep navy. Helene had owned one of the button-up sweaters in the earthen tones the Duskpaw favored.

A gift from Kyle’s mother for her eighteenth birthday. One of the few especially kind women in that village.

Of course, with the original body’s terrible luck, it was the clothing she was wearing when she half-drowned in a lake.

> You don’t have to feel so much shame just from seeing a piece of clothing. It wasn’t your fault that it tore when you shifted to save her. <

Vrika keeps its face flat on the floor in depression. Helene did kind of hold onto the shreds and look at them every now and then.

I know it’s not about the destroyed gift, really. I think.

But ’videos’ of pet animals looking like they wanted forgiveness after wrecking the house keep triggering in Helene’s memory as I watch the spirit.

"This would pair well with any of the neutral tops."

Relief is in my voice, that nothing truly resembled the sort of forest tones that the people of that werewolf pack favored. However, while these clothes looked quite a bit like what I’d seen people of the city walking around in...

They are not at all my world’s style. I’ll have to adapt.

"I’d like to try them on now, if that is alright."

I won’t know if I can stand it until I wear them. No matter what, I will have to obtain at least one set.

"Of course. Take a few to the fitting room you used before. I’ll bring the others over."

Deciding to go roughly in the order she showed them, I dressed and undressed one by one. All of the simple clothes were serviceably comfortable.

All of them looked good on this figure. Trust someone who specializes in fashion and it is hard to be very disappointed.

Denim pants are something that clung to skin more than I’m used to, but I’m not sure I would call it bad. They would be too tight to transform without destroying, though.

The red top had more ’flow’ to it and felt the most like myself. When I stuck my head out to inform her I would be trying the dress on next, she held her hand up in a stop motion.

"Perfect timing, don’t rush to change again. The food has arrived."

Looking at the system clock told me that I had spent quite a bit of time gazing at this form in the mirror. That’s not good.

> Maybe you should be in charge of my time when there is a chance for me to primp. I do not desire to be this world’s cliche of a woman who takes two hours to get ready to go anywhere. <

My stomach grumbled softly when I scented the air, the smell of the water’s bounty and the land’s staple coming from somewhere in the boutique.

"Is it fine for me to eat without paying for this set of clothes first?"

"Her card is technically on file in my system, so even if you ran out of the store in it... it would not be a loss for me."

A few moments passed before I realized her ’system’ meant something about the computers that handled sales. I’d almost asked some rather silly questions of Anise.

Imagine, someone else being haunted by the same fey magic. The relaxing moments here have not done enough to prevent my mind from being on edge.

She led me to a small area at the rear of the boutique. Past a clothes-strewn countertop, with a closed laptop and papers with sketches of outfits.

Toward a cozy seating area hidden behind a decorative screen panel pulled over a doorway.

A space that almost felt private with a small table and only two comfortable chairs. The kind of secretive place where business might be conducted away from prying eyes that enter the shop just to see who she is working with.

Many of the merchants whose houses I frequented for other concealed reasons had a place like this.

"I use this area for our VIP clients. Please, go ahead and sit."

Multiple containers were being arranged on the table by a young woman shorter than myself by quite a bit. Her tea-brown hair, that I assume may be dyed based on her particular ’Asian’ features, is swirled up into two taut buns on the side of her head.

> A comrade, of sorts! The number two is balance. It is correct. Not too much that it grows excessive, but not so singular that it feels alone. <

Vrika paid no attention to my monologue, too eager for me to get to tasting the food. Which was still hidden beneath black ceramic lids emblazoned with silver characters.

The language... I am unfamiliar with from both sets of memories. Not that I expected any different.

"Thank you as always, Reina. Please tell your grandfather I’ll actually find the time to come in person someday."

The young woman bowed gracefully from her hips before departing. An interesting action for a person of this ’modern’ world to take.

Cultural? Not something I think I could ever do so easily...

Being so... trusting.